Welcome to the Serendipity Economy

Industrial age economics obscures economic activity that doesn’t fit neatly into its models of productivity and efficiency. In an ever more connected world, a new framework is required that accounts for the valued derived from seemingly random and unanticipated encounters and interactions. The Serendipity Economy framework posits six attributes that identify faults in our current analysis. It explains why future value can’t be forecasted, and why organizations should spend more time monitoring the networks that represent modern information and knowledge work, into order to act on serendipity when it occurs, and account for it as a part of their value.

About the author

Daniel W. Rasmus

Daniel W. Rasmus helps organizations shape strategy through scenario planning and deep analysis of the uncertainties and dynamics of the business climate. Dan applies his unique ability to synthesize social, economic, political and technological data in order to reveal emergent opportunities, identify threats and discover creative approaches to both. Clients can expect strong leadership, frank and constructive feedback and a willingness to teach others how to effectively develop and execute strategy. Daniel's speaking and writing skills can be applied to third-party thought leadership content aimed at changing perceptions, repositioning an organization and demonstrating industry leadership.

[…] Well, one more thing. Problem solving, as I alluded to above with Da Vinci, is not the only representation of genius. Collaboration is right. Obsession is right, but so are many other attributes, like pattern recognition, building consensus, nurturing relationships, and incremental and purposeful innovation. Let us not be so narrow in our definition of genius because in our tumultuous world we can not foretell what kind of genius we will need — so as we do with learning, pushing toward life long learning, we should be pushing for life long pursuit of insight, because we never know who, or where or what may be needed as the world’s values and economics and technologies shift around us. We live in a Serendipity Economy. […]

[…] industrial age economy does not exist in a vacuum. Running alongside it is the Serendipity Economy, an economic space where often random, always unanticipated interactions occur that may lead to […]

[…] industrial age economy does not exist in a vacuum. Running alongside it is the Serendipity Economy, an economic space where often random, always unanticipated interactions occur that may lead to […]